Theresa Lee Officially Retires as Childhood Education Professor

Theresa Lee is officially retiring after this spring quarter from 12 years of instructing as an adjunct childhood educator at Green River College.

She has two two-year degrees from North Seattle Community College—one in vocal music and the other in early childhood education.

She was first inspired to teach childhood education when her children were born. From that inspiration, she has had a long, fulfilling career and has been teaching at Green River since 2005.

She started out by teaching a childhood education class, which was connected to a parent’s co-op, a program that is no longer offered at Green River but that she wishes would be brought back. One of her favorite things when teaching young children is “watching their excitement,” Lee said.

In the last few years, she has acquired her masters at Pacific Oaks College. She then joined the child education department. At first, she taught preschoolers, but then decided to teach future childhood educators instead, because “The world is based on how we treat young children,” Lee continued, “The first five years are crucial and determine the next 80.”

The world of childcare has changed since Lee first started teaching, “It’s no longer a free-for-all,” Lee said. New understandings of brain development in young children and other factors have pushed new state requirements and teaching guidelines into effect. These guidelines are requiring childcare professionals to have degrees.

This change has forced many childcare professionals to go back to school, making many of Lee’s students over the years people who need the degree but have the experience. A highlight for Lee when teaching the students at Green River is when the students understand the concept.

The childhood education class is combined with the Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) program, a Washington State program where students work with additional teachers inside the classroom for help with basic skills in multiple subjects. This aids students in getting the help they need while pursuing their desired degree.

Lee’s favorite part about the program being combined with her class is when the first member of a family to attend college—with the help of the I-BEST program—is able to succeed, and from there, move on to achieve bigger and better things.

She puts an emphasis on diversity in her teachings because today we are living in a more diverse culture. This means a growing emphasis on cultural awareness when teaching young children. She even focused on this when writing her main thesis paper on diversity when acquiring her masters.

Over the years, she has worked alongside Diana Holz, another Early Childhood Education professor at Green River, to emphasize teachers being able to implement diverse opportunities in the classroom.
Despite her retirement, Lee will continue to have one online class because she just can’t completely give up her passion for teaching.

Her retirement plans include hanging out with her young grandchildren and doing lots of traveling with her husband.

After 12 years of childhood education in both teaching young children and future childhood educators, it is a well-deserved retirement.

Lee will be taking off for Florida with her husband as soon as grades are posted for spring quarter.